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| Professor Wole Soyinka with Governor Ibikunle Amosun, his wife, Dr. Olufunso Amosun and Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga |
The second edition of the African
Drums Festival kicked off in Abeokuta,
the Ogun State penultimate Thursday
evening with pomp and pageantry. The glamour that marked the event was exciting
to watch. The first edition was held on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, and referred to
as “Nigerian Drums Festival”
Drums Festival kicked off in Abeokuta,
the Ogun State penultimate Thursday
evening with pomp and pageantry. The glamour that marked the event was exciting
to watch. The first edition was held on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, and referred to
as “Nigerian Drums Festival”
During Thursday’s event, Governor
Ibikunle Amosun unveiled an 18-feet high drum, an improvement over the
17-feet high drum unveiled last year. The 18-feet drum is acclaimed to be the
world tallest drum.
Ibikunle Amosun unveiled an 18-feet high drum, an improvement over the
17-feet high drum unveiled last year. The 18-feet drum is acclaimed to be the
world tallest drum.
The aim of the event, according to
the Ogun State government and organizers
of the programme, is to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Africans through drums. Among the
dignitaries that graced the occassion, held at the premises of the June 12 Cultural Centre were, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu
Gbadebo; Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai
Mohammed and Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson.
the Ogun State government and organizers
of the programme, is to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Africans through drums. Among the
dignitaries that graced the occassion, held at the premises of the June 12 Cultural Centre were, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu
Gbadebo; Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai
Mohammed and Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson.
Other dignitaries include, the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka,
Olu of Ilaro, paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and the Olowu
of Owu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu.
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| A traditional Group from Oyo |
The representative of the Mayor of
the city of Dallas, USA, Regina
Hill, Lady Bernard Suarres from Cuba,
Prof.
Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi and representatives of Imo, Oyo and Kastina State
governors, Kaddi Obinna, Toye Adesola Arologun and Mammud
Borodo, respectively also graced the event.
the city of Dallas, USA, Regina
Hill, Lady Bernard Suarres from Cuba,
Prof.
Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi and representatives of Imo, Oyo and Kastina State
governors, Kaddi Obinna, Toye Adesola Arologun and Mammud
Borodo, respectively also graced the event.
The three-day event witnessed
performances from over 50 cultural troupes. But as at Thursday, troupes from
five African countries as well as Cuba,
Haiti and the United States of America (USA) had arrived.
performances from over 50 cultural troupes. But as at Thursday, troupes from
five African countries as well as Cuba,
Haiti and the United States of America (USA) had arrived.
The Thursday’s event witnessed
beautiful performances from Ara, the female drummer, the
Atilogwu troupe from Anambra State, the Wagnilo group and Oliworo ko kou of Benin Republic, among other
performances.
beautiful performances from Ara, the female drummer, the
Atilogwu troupe from Anambra State, the Wagnilo group and Oliworo ko kou of Benin Republic, among other
performances.
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| A children traditional group performing |
The Ekemini Cultural Troupe made up of children from Akwa Ibom State warmed the hearts of the
audience with their beautiful performance on the xylophone. Other local troupes
from Nigeria were, Association of Kano
State Troupes, Hubert Ogunde Cultural
Troupe from Ogun State, Duro Ladipo Troupe, Shehu Troupe, Niger State,
Oyo State Cultural Troupe and Ensemble Drums, Maliki Troupe of Borno State,
Dawa Troupe from Plateau State, as
well as troupes from Bayelsa, Osun, Katsina, Ondo, Edo, Lagos,
Imo and Benue States.
audience with their beautiful performance on the xylophone. Other local troupes
from Nigeria were, Association of Kano
State Troupes, Hubert Ogunde Cultural
Troupe from Ogun State, Duro Ladipo Troupe, Shehu Troupe, Niger State,
Oyo State Cultural Troupe and Ensemble Drums, Maliki Troupe of Borno State,
Dawa Troupe from Plateau State, as
well as troupes from Bayelsa, Osun, Katsina, Ondo, Edo, Lagos,
Imo and Benue States.
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| A traditional drum group from Cuba |
The foreign troupes were, the Association of intersection Haiti, Association Toffondji of Togo, Leydis Bernal Suarez of Cuba, Faso Djarabi of Burkina Faso, La Campagnie N’tsamini, Afro Media, USA, Gwari troupe, Ghana,
Nikki Spooner from the city of Dallas,
USA.
Nikki Spooner from the city of Dallas,
USA.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi in his
goodwill message noted that the festival would rejuvenate and sustain the
traditional culture of the participating countries, adding that the festival
would continue to create opportunities for the youths to showcase their talents
and dexterity on different drums.
goodwill message noted that the festival would rejuvenate and sustain the
traditional culture of the participating countries, adding that the festival
would continue to create opportunities for the youths to showcase their talents
and dexterity on different drums.
The Monarch who spoke in Yoruba,
said: “The African Drums Festival is a
tourism haven and a boost to our unity as a people in Yorubaland and Nigeria in
particular. Drums have continued to unite and add glamour to our lifestyle from
time immemorial”.
said: “The African Drums Festival is a
tourism haven and a boost to our unity as a people in Yorubaland and Nigeria in
particular. Drums have continued to unite and add glamour to our lifestyle from
time immemorial”.
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| The Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) speaks at the Ogun State Drum Festival |
“I am glad at what I am seeing here today. Yoruba people are
unique creatures because God created us first. God created us as humble beings
and He gave us rich cultural heritage in which drum is derived from”.
unique creatures because God created us first. God created us as humble beings
and He gave us rich cultural heritage in which drum is derived from”.
“But what is giving us great challenge is how to turn our
(Yoruba) rich cultural heritage into money and we can only achieve this when we
continue to promote our culture and tradition. Whatever we do, we must always
strive to promote our culture and prevent it from going into extinction”.
(Yoruba) rich cultural heritage into money and we can only achieve this when we
continue to promote our culture and tradition. Whatever we do, we must always
strive to promote our culture and prevent it from going into extinction”.
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| The Governor of Ogun State welcomes the Ooni of Ile-Ife |
“I was speaking with the Alaafin where we were seated and we
both commended Governor Ibikunle Amosun for putting this together. He is taking
a good step in preserving and promoting our culture,” he said.
both commended Governor Ibikunle Amosun for putting this together. He is taking
a good step in preserving and promoting our culture,” he said.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba
Lamidi Adeyemi, who also spoke in Yoruba,
said: “What we are doing here today is
very important in Yoruba-land. Drum is a very important item in Yoruba culture.
I read a lot of books and I have traveled far and wide and in all the places I
have been to, I have never seen a talking drum except in Yoruba-land.”
Lamidi Adeyemi, who also spoke in Yoruba,
said: “What we are doing here today is
very important in Yoruba-land. Drum is a very important item in Yoruba culture.
I read a lot of books and I have traveled far and wide and in all the places I
have been to, I have never seen a talking drum except in Yoruba-land.”
Highlighting some of the importance
of African drums, the Monarch noted: “Drums
are always present in all the palaces of Yoruba Monarchs. Every morning at 5am, drums wake up Yoruba Kings and
always remind them of oaths they took to serve the people at all times unlike
our politicians who don’t have anything to remind them of their pledges to the
people who put them in power”.
of African drums, the Monarch noted: “Drums
are always present in all the palaces of Yoruba Monarchs. Every morning at 5am, drums wake up Yoruba Kings and
always remind them of oaths they took to serve the people at all times unlike
our politicians who don’t have anything to remind them of their pledges to the
people who put them in power”.
“African drums are used for making proverbs, to warn people
of imminent dangers, to entertain, to mourn or announce the death of an
important personality and they are also used during wars”
of imminent dangers, to entertain, to mourn or announce the death of an
important personality and they are also used during wars”
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| A Drummer Group from Haiti |
The Alaafin who came in company of
some of his wives and his personal drummers revealed that research by Yoruba
scholars has shown that every family in Yoruba-land has pedigree, which drummers
can always interpret through their drums. The Monarch then went ahead to sing
with his drummers who quickly interpreted his songs with their drums.
some of his wives and his personal drummers revealed that research by Yoruba
scholars has shown that every family in Yoruba-land has pedigree, which drummers
can always interpret through their drums. The Monarch then went ahead to sing
with his drummers who quickly interpreted his songs with their drums.
“I have learnt a lot from this event and I will go back home
and tell my Governor, Senator Abiola Ajumobi to also organise something like
this, but I don’t know who we are going to invite since Governor Amosun has
already invited the whole of Africa, maybe we will invite the entire world for
our own event,” the Monarch joked.
and tell my Governor, Senator Abiola Ajumobi to also organise something like
this, but I don’t know who we are going to invite since Governor Amosun has
already invited the whole of Africa, maybe we will invite the entire world for
our own event,” the Monarch joked.
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| Governor Ibikunle Amosun signs on the drum insignia |
The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo in his
remarks stressed the need for the Federal government to diversify the economy
by promoting tourism, saying: “The era of
cheap oil money is gone for good, we have to show the world that they have to
come here with their big money to invest in our rich culture, tradition and
tourism. We will get far more money from investing in our culture and tourism
than what we will get from oil”.
remarks stressed the need for the Federal government to diversify the economy
by promoting tourism, saying: “The era of
cheap oil money is gone for good, we have to show the world that they have to
come here with their big money to invest in our rich culture, tradition and
tourism. We will get far more money from investing in our culture and tourism
than what we will get from oil”.
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| The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) signs on the drum insignia |
“In Yoruba-land we cannot put away the important place of
drum, we cannot dance without drum. Drum is important for communication because
every drum is a talking drum. Drum is a major part of our culture. We are
asking other states to please pick up other aspects of our culture and develop
it like this”, he said.
drum, we cannot dance without drum. Drum is important for communication because
every drum is a talking drum. Drum is a major part of our culture. We are
asking other states to please pick up other aspects of our culture and develop
it like this”, he said.
Minister for Information, Culture
and Tourism, Lai Mohammed, represented by the Artistic Director of the
National Troupe, Comrade Tsar Ukoh, commended the state government for organizing the event.
and Tourism, Lai Mohammed, represented by the Artistic Director of the
National Troupe, Comrade Tsar Ukoh, commended the state government for organizing the event.
He emphasized that no festival is complete
in Africa without drums. “This Festival
is particularly important because of its focus on an aspect of our heritage
that we have either taken for granted or one that is gradually fading away. In
traditional African societies and, perhaps elsewhere in the world, the kind of
drums they beat or the beats of such drums are unique to their cultures. In
other words, drums and their beats have meaning”.
in Africa without drums. “This Festival
is particularly important because of its focus on an aspect of our heritage
that we have either taken for granted or one that is gradually fading away. In
traditional African societies and, perhaps elsewhere in the world, the kind of
drums they beat or the beats of such drums are unique to their cultures. In
other words, drums and their beats have meaning”.
“I implore Ogun State to sustain this festival and urge
other states to borrow a leaf from the Gateway State, by also organizing their
own Drums Festivals, culminating in a National Drums Festival that will bring
together all the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory”
other states to borrow a leaf from the Gateway State, by also organizing their
own Drums Festivals, culminating in a National Drums Festival that will bring
together all the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory”
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| Governor Amosun with wife, Dr. (Mrs.) Olufunso Amosun with Deputy Governor, Mrs. Onanuga and Professor Wole Soyinka (M) |
Soyinka in his goodwill message said Ogun State is known for recording
many firsts in all areas of human endeavor.“Many
people tend to under-estimate the value of drum, the thing is just that of a
habit. Whereas, it is a very sophisticated rhythm, it is a very sophisticated
possession of human beings. We all live in the world of rhythm right from
birth; in fact, from the heartbeat to the pulse”
many firsts in all areas of human endeavor.“Many
people tend to under-estimate the value of drum, the thing is just that of a
habit. Whereas, it is a very sophisticated rhythm, it is a very sophisticated
possession of human beings. We all live in the world of rhythm right from
birth; in fact, from the heartbeat to the pulse”
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| Governor Amosun thanks Nations for attending the Festival |
(Additional News culled from The
Guardian Newspaper)
Guardian Newspaper)
